Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Randomized, open-label, crossover pilot study.
Participants
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Interventions
High-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO). A standard nonmobile HFCWO device (sHFCWO) was used as a comparator
Outcome measures
Sputum was collected during and after each therapy session, while spirometry tests, Brody score assessment and functional respiratory imaging were performed before and after treatments.
Main results
Wet weight of sputum collected during and after treatment was similar for mHFCWO and sHFCWO (6.53â±â8.55 vs 5.80â±â5.82; Pâ=â.777). Interestingly, the mHFCWO treatment led to a significant decrease in specific airway volume (9.55â±â9.96 vs 8.74â±â9.70âmL/L; Pâ<â.001), while increasing specific airway resistance (0.10â±â0.16 vs 0.16â±â0.23 KPA*S; Pâ<â.001). These changes were heterogeneously-distributed throughout the lung tissue and were greater in the distal areas, suggesting a shift of mucus. Changes were accompanied by an overall improvement in the Brody index (57.71â±â16.55 vs 55.20â±â16.98; Pâ=â.001).
Authors' conclusions
The newly developed mobile device provides airway clearance for CF patients comparable to a nonmobile sHFCWO device, yielding a change in airway geometry and patency by the shift of mucus from the more peripheral regions to the central airways.